Should Gamers Try The Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice?

There’s an array of dark-fantasy indie games floating around in the gaming world, but Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice sets a distinct mark. This action-adventure, independent AAA game is the brainchild of Ninja Theory, the British video game studio that has gifted the fraternity with a diverse portfolio of games. The game was released globally for PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows in August 2017 but came to VR game fans after it was updated in 2018.

The game, drawing inspiration from Celtic culture and Norse mythology, features Senua as the chief character who’s a Pict warrior bestowed with the task of facing challenges and defeating outwardly entities on her way to Helheim. Her mission: to rescue her dead lover from goddess Hela. The gameplay draws parallels between psychotic mental illness and beliefs of metaphorical hexes.

What’s unique about Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is that is a perfect blend of multiple genres, including puzzle solving, hack and slash, voice acting, live action, motion capture, and psychological horror. The unique gameplay garnered accolades from across the gaming fraternity, thereby marking a difference from most other independent games of the present times.

The gameplay of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

Talking about the gameplay of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, gamers can expect two types: the first part allows Senua to lark around freely and interact with her immediate environment. This part relies on either storytelling through voiceover or the resolution of a challenge as Senua progresses through.

“Focus”, a capacity she can use, sets her perception apart from other people. As soon as she uses her ability on hidden totems, she faces her memories through a voice-over of her friend Druth, reiterating the stories of the Norsemen. Not to forget, all forty-four of them initiates a bonus cut-scene before the game’s conclusion, taking gamers to Druth’s backstory.

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice includes her struggle with Northmen’s malformed representations, during which her sword is drawn out. She can use two kinds of attacks, heavy or quick, to fight her enemy and parry their combats. The best part: she can obtain Gramr and charge her enemies with heavy strikes. Gamers, however, have to be careful while Senua suffers too many attacks and falls to the ground. They have to be swift enough to press the corresponding button before she gets a fatal blow.

A stirring indie game built on a budget

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, as confirmed by developer Ninja Theory, is based on a tight budget. As a matter of fact, the developers of the game worked closely with psychiatrists and gamers are likely to experience an extremely accurate depiction of sinking mental health.

Everything about the game is blended well to boost its immersive nature. You will be dragged to the shoes of the chief character of the game. Make sure you use a GTX 1080 Ti graphics card to witness the 60fps and 4K experience of the game.